Pastures

Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, João Vendramini, andEd Jennings

José C. B. Dubeux, Jr. and Edward K. Twidwell

This 4-page document provides information on preparing forage crops, conserved forage, and grazing areas for potential hurricane damage and alleviating hurricane damage on forage crops and grazing lands in the Southeast United States, with an emphasis on the Florida peninsula and Gulf Coast.

M.L. Silveira, J. M. Vendramini, P. J. Hogue and J. F. Selph

M. Wallau and J. Vendramini

Determining forage moisture is an essential procedure for estimating forage mass in pastures, determining harvesting or baling point for preserved forages, and calculating dry matter of feedstuff for total mixed rations. Target moisture for hay is between 13% and 15% (85%–87% dry matter), while it ranges from 40%–60% (60%–40% dry matter) for baleage, and up to 65% moisture (35% dry matter) for silage. Baling or harvesting at higher moisture can lead to spoilage or spontaneous combustion in hay, or butyric fermentation in silage. However, low moisture can prevent silage from properly fermenting, resulting in slow and low pH reduction for proper storage. There are several methods and pieces of equipment available to estimate forage moisture. Electronic methods such as moisture probes are quick, but they give more variable results than a microwave or forced-air heating unit such as the Koster Tester.

Y. C. Newman, M. J. Hersom, and W. E. Kunkle

This document is about grass tetany, sometimes called grass staggers or hypomagnesemia, that can be a serious problem in Florida with cattle grazing small grain or ryegrass pastures. The problem is usually confined to lactating cows. It is always associated with an imbalance in the mineral components of blood serum, especially reduced magnesium levels. In Florida, grass tetany is more severe when cattle are grazing young forage, particularly the first flush of growth during December and January. Once the forage becomes more mature, the likelihood of problems is reduced. Grass tetany is apt to appear under conditions of nutritional stress. Placing cattle on winter pasture directly after being on frosted or other low quality pasture may cause such a nutritional stress. First published in April 1997. 

Jose Dubeux, Jr., Lynn Sollenberger, Mark Mauldin, and Liza Garcia

Matt Hersom, Todd Thrift, and Joel Yelich

Jose Dubeux, Marcelo Wallau, João Vendramini, Liliane Silva, Jane Griffin, Nicolas DiLorenzo, and Erick Santos

This document explains methods to measure forage mass and utilize that information to estimate an adequate stocking rate. 

Maria Silveira, Ed Hanlon, Mariana Azenha, and Hiran M. da Silva

T. Wilson, C. Sanders, J. Breman, and L. Sollenberger

M. O. Wallau, A. T. Adesogan, L. E. Sollenberger, J. M. B. Vendramini, and J. C. B. Dubeux, Jr.

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet.

Hui-Ling Liao, Kaile Zhang, Kaile Zhang, Vijay Verma, Haihua Wang, Brittany Justesen, Justesen,Brittany L., Joseph Walter, Joseph H. Walter, Valerie Mendez Stansly, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Marcelo Wallau, Robert (Robbie) Jones, Ko-Hsuan Chen, Ed Jennings, J. K. Yarborough, Doug Mayo, Ray Bodrey, andAaron Stam

The toxicity of grasses caused by mycotoxins has led to economic losses in the United States due to the health impact on livestock feeding on it. Florida's warm and humid weather is favorable for the growth of mycotoxin-producing fungi on grasses. The JECFA has provided evaluations and risk management for some high-risk mycotoxins; however, more research is needed in Florida to determine the maximum levels of these mycotoxins, how different environmental conditions affect these levels, and the specialized risk management to prevent animals from getting sick. Our Extension agents were able to collect and examine 195 grass samples from 13 ranchers across dry and wet seasons in Florida. In this publication, we summarized the results for our ranchers to learn more about (1) what (dominant) mycotoxins are generally present in Florida’s pastures, (2) what grass species could harbor more of these mycotoxins, and (3) what seasons or locations may favor these dominant mycotoxins.

Marcelo Wallau, Brittany Justesen, Ann Blount, Cheryl Mackowiak, Hui-Ling (Sunny) Liao, and Diwakar Vyas

Beef cattle producers in Florida have expressed concerns about the potential presence of mycotoxins in summer perennial forages. In other regions of the US, mycotoxins in forage crops have caused productivity and economic losses. This article provides information about the current state of knowledge regarding mycotoxins in Florida perennial grass pastures.

Joao Vendramini and Maria Silveira

A UF/IFAS numbered Fact Sheet. Published by Plant Systems

Kevin Roger Trumpp, Kalyn Waters, José Dubeux, and Cleber Henrique Lopes de Souza

Nitrogen (N) is a key element in promoting plant and livestock growth and production. The two major ways to add N in pastures are fertilizer and integrating N-fixing forage legumes. The purpose of this publication is to compare these two options for cattle producers, farmers, Extension agents, and policymakers. Written by Kevin Roger Trumpp, Kalyn Waters, José Dubeux, and Cleber Henrique Lopes de Souza, and published by the UF/IFAS Department of Agronomy, February 2025.